Stacey Solomon's rarely seen ex appears on Stacey & Joe as she discusses teenage pregnancy

Stacey Solomon's rarely seen ex, Dean, appeared on her BBC family reality series Stacey & Joe for the first time on Tuesday night, introducing viewers to the man who fathered her eldest son Zachary as she discusses their teenage pregnancy. The episode centers on Zach's 17th birthday dinner at Pickle Cottage, with Dean and his wife Nikki joining Stacey and husband Joe Swash for a fish and chips meal.

Zach looked thrilled when his dad and his partner arrived, greeting them with a warm hug and a remark about turning 17. The scene underscored a blended family dynamic, with Stacey noting it would be better for the children to have two loving families than be fighting over them. The dinner also touched on the past, with Dean recalling the year Zach was born and Stacey acknowledging the age she was at the time.

During the meal, Stacey opened up about teenage pregnancy, describing how her step-mum was the first to know she was pregnant after a cafe moment with Stacey's dad. The step-mum pulled her aside to ask when her last period was, and Stacey said she told her dad immediately and then shared the news with the rest of the family. The moment provided a candid look at how Zach and his siblings would be welcomed into their lives and the support structure around them.

Stacey, who was 18 when she had Zach in 2007 with childhood sweetheart Dean, has long kept details about the children's paternity private, saying it is not right for the kids to read about it publicly. She is also mum to Leighton, 13, with ex Aaron Barham, and to Rex, five, Rose, three, and Belle, two, with husband Joe Swash. The episode was filmed in March, and in accompanying content, Stacey’s Beaming birthday post for Zach earlier in the year highlighted the ongoing pride she feels for her son as he enters late adolescence.

The programme highlights the realities of blended families and the value of extended support for children growing up across two households. The exchange with Dean, Nikki, and the rest of Stacey’s inner circle underscores a parenting approach built on collaboration and affection rather than conflict. The latest installment of Stacey & Joe was filmed in March, and viewers are left with a portrait of a family navigating adolescence, memory, and the evolving role of two households in raising Zach and his siblings.